7. Jesus in Mark 16:16. (This passage is admitted to being a forgery by all but the most hard-core fundamentalists, but it concisely represents sentiments attributed to Jesus throughout the New Testament.)

8. Paul, in Romans 1:20-22, 28. Based on this passage and a few others, many Christians falsely accuse atheists of secretly knowing that the Christian religion is true, but willfully lying about what we "know" to be true!

15. Cliff Walker, "Solidification and Isolation," part of the section "Discussing Atheism with Others" of "Introduction To Activistic Atheism" (1999, rev. October, 2000), which was originally derived from a section of C. Dennis McKinsey, Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy.

20. "I would choose the weak definition and the strong position, while rejecting dogmatism." -- Victor Gijsbers, in a private letter to Cliff Walker, dated September 25, 2000.

21. Most notably Michael Martin in his 1990 book, Atheism: A Philosophical Justification. Martin basically characterizes negative atheism as being unconvinced by theism's various claims, and positive atheism as having arguments refuting the notion that gods exist.

34. "I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the latter in the being worshiped by many who think themselves Christians." -- Thomas Jefferson, in response to a letter from Richard Price, written from Paris on January 8, 1789. Price had said, "There has been in almost all religions a melancholy separation of religion from morality." Surely Jefferson is using the word atheism as a synonym for immorality; this was a common and accepted usage of the word 200 years ago.

Besides, Jefferson had said, to his nephew Peter Carr: "Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must approve the homage of reason rather than of blind-folded fear. Do not be frightened from this inquiry by any fear of its consequences.... If it end in a belief that there is no god, you will find incitements to virtue in the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise and in the love of others it will procure for you." -- 10 Aug. 1787 (original capitalization of the word god is retained per original).

37. Quotations are descriptions of Scriven's views, taken from George H. Smith, Atheism, Ayn Rand, and Other Heresies, "Defining Atheism," and describing Michael Scriven's book, Primary Philosophy. These are not direct quotations from Scriven's work.

52. New York State's highest court, on June 11, 1996, ruled that Alcoholics Anonymous "engages in religious activity and religious proselytization" in the case Griffin v. Coughlin. "A fair reading of the fundamental AA doctrinal writings discloses that their dominant theme is unequivocally religious," the court said. "Adherence to the AA fellowship entails engagement in religious activity and religious proselytization."

Other courts have followed this precedent, using it to rule that AA fits the legal definition of a religion, as religion relates to the United States Constitution. See our Recovery Watch section for more on this.

56. Joseph Lewis, "Thomas Paine: World Citizen": "Paine knew that liberty requires responsibility; he also knew that liberty provides for the making of errors. He knew, too, that knowledge and liberty are the great solvents of error and that trials and tribulations are its correctives. That is why he said, 'When nations are free, either in matters of government or religion, the truth will finally and powerfully prevail.'"

76. This is a paraphrase of an exhortation frequently made by Lanny Swerdlow, former president of United States Atheists. Swerdlow was, for a long time, very open about denouncing any and every form of religion, even those forms whose practitioners did no harm to their fellow humans.